Category Archives: FEATURED ARTICLES (PREVIOUS EDITIONS)

Carruthers Printing

(To view our September/October 2014 issue of ClubWEST online, click here.)

For a retired fellow, Ivan Carruthers is one busy man.

Although he retired nearly two decades ago, Carruthers is still an active, connected cog in the West Lincoln community.

It was a long time ago when he broke into the community newspaper business with then-publisher of the Smithville Review George Adams at age 17 as a part-time employee. Then, in 1954, he became the youngest community newspaper publisher in Canada at age 23 when he bought the paper from Adams.

Carruthers said he may have gone into carpentry had Adams not given him his big break.

Although he had been pressed into leaving high school to earn money to help his family of 12 – his father had died and his brother was killed in WW II – Carruthers had been bitten by the
newspaper bug.

He loved his job and he greatly appreciated the opportunity afforded him by Adams, whom he looked upon as a father figure.

See the full article in our online edition.

Wine Country Rocks

By K.D. Dawn

ClubWest(To view our July/August 2014 issue of ClubWEST online, click here.)

There are so many reasons why Niagara wine country rocks my world. The vast beauty of our Niagara region never ceases to amaze me. I headed out to the west side of our lovely wine country to see what I could find and was thrilled to find some fabulous people, support our local economy and drink some
beautiful wines. This served as an escapade within the everyday life I lead. There were no phones ringing, office windows to stare out blankly or even a deadline to get too. Just me, in my car, sunroof open singing at the top of my lungs and my stomach rumbling in anticipation of the wine and food adventure that awaited me.

The first stop was Harvest Estate Wines, nestled inside a fabulous little place called the Harvest Barn on Fourth Avenue. I popped inside to see what was in store. The signs on the wall read “Come and try our new Rhubarb Wine”, and that is exactly what I did. I walked into the winery boutique and was greeted by the sweetest smile. Nancie is a one-of-a-kind wine aficionado with sass. A woman full of energy and a passion for wine, she was able to help me decide on my tasting selection.

From fruit wine to ice wine and even a Green Tea Gewürztraminer, these succulent sips were a hit. The price point was phenomenal and I think I might have bought one of the last bottles of their amazing Blueberry Wine too. Once a month Nancie hosts a customer appreciation day and pairs her wines with some fresh bakery items from the Harvest Barn, baked right on premises. This is a great place to stop in for a chat, a sip, or just savour the fruits of our region.

See the full article in our online edition.

Weir winery’s winding road finally leads it to EastDell

(To view our July/August 2014 issue of ClubWEST online, click here.)

An underlying but consistent characteristic in the life of Mike Weir has been passion.

“When he started out he told me when he was 14 years old he would play on the PGA (Professional Golf Association) Tour one day,” recalled Steve Bennett, affectionately known as The Guv by Weir and his family. It was Bennett who helped craft Weir’s game at an early age as the club pro at Huron Oaks in Weir’s hometown of Bright’s Grove, just outside Sarnia.

“As a junior golfer, Mike was always a step ahead of the others but he really wanted it more. He had a passion for it. He wanted to learn how to play the game.”

Fast forward about 35 years to Mike Weir, standing officially in what started out as Walters Estate Winery in the 1990s, then became EastDell Estate Winery, and now Mike Weir Winery, on a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon during a grand opening hosted in typical Mike Weir fashion, classy and personal. The June 21st opening was for family and friends only.

Weir, who cemented his fame capturing the 2003 Masters in Augusta, Ga., had the Order of Canada bestowed upon him in 2009.

Mike Weir addresses the gathering at the official opening of Mike Weir Winery in Beamsville, June 21, with winery president Barry Katzman, left and Lincoln Mayor Bill Hodgson.
Mike Weir addresses the gathering at the official opening of Mike Weir Winery in Beamsville, June 21, with winery president Barry Katzman, left and Lincoln Mayor Bill Hodgson.

The winery opening was the culmination of four years of development for a “winery” which had no home until now.

Weir Winery president, Barry Katzman, notes the organization took a very different tack to get to where they are.

“We started out in 2005 and developed a national wine sales program which has grown to sell 20,000 cases of wine per year before we even had a retail spot,” said Katzman, who noted the brand launched with help of Laura and Peter McCain at Creekside Winery.

“Most wineries follow a more typical route. They go retail first and then try to get into bars and restaurants as well as Vintages and such. The missing tooth in our smile has always been retail. We’re very fortunate. We think we have the best spot in Niagara.”

See the full article in our online edition.